Luke 9:35

Luke 9:35, in plain English

A voice from the cloud said, 'This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!' God Himself settled every question about who Jesus is.

Why it's here

God the Father spoke to make one thing crystal clear: Jesus is His Son, and His words carry ultimate authority. When Jesus speaks, it is God speaking. Listen to Him above all others.

Who's speaking

God the Father speaks from the cloud.

Where it sits in the story

From inside the cloud, God's voice rang out: this is My Son, My chosen one. Listen to Him. In three short sentences, God answered every question about who Jesus was and what the disciples should do about it.

The scholarly reading

A phōnē ('voice') from the cloud declares houtos estin ho huios mou ho eklelegmenos ('This is My Son, whom I have chosen'). The command autou akouete ('Listen to Him!') echoes Deuteronomy 18:15, identifying Jesus as the Prophet like Moses to whom all must listen.

Language and setting

Luke uses eklelegmenos ('chosen') instead of Mark's agapētos ('beloved'), connecting to the Servant of the Lord (Isaiah 42:1). The divine declaration corrects Peter's error: Jesus is not equal to Moses and Elijah but supreme over them as God's chosen Son.

Voice

God the Father speaks from the cloud, declaring Jesus' identity and authority.

Significance

God's voice thundered from the cloud with a definitive declaration: Jesus is His chosen Son, and the command is clear: listen to Him. Moses and Elijah are servants; Jesus is the Son.

33As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters —one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”

36After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.

37The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd.

Read all of Luke 9 — Peter confesses, the Transfiguration blazes, and Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem. Everything from here moves toward the cross.